Cricketer turns classical singer

(March 2003)

Olonga no longer welcome in homeland

Zimbabwe cricketer Henry Olonga is hoping to launch a career as a tenor in the US or UK after being forced to quit the sport by political threats.

Olonga wants to make a ‘double CD of classical music with an eclectic edge’. He has already been invited to work with composer and conductor Barrington Pheloung, who wrote the theme music for television series Inspector Morse and the score to the controversial biopic of cellist Jacqueline Du Pré, Hilary and Jackie.

At the start of the cricket World Cup in February, Olonga and team-mate Andy Flower wore black armbands and read out a statement mourning the death of democracy in Zimbabwe.

He received death threats later and last week had to escape from Zimbabwe officers who turned up at the game against Kenya in East London, South Africa, to escort him to his homeland to face charges of treason. He retired from the sport afterwards.

Olonga said, ‘I have been incredibly blessed by God to be a singer and also a sportsman. Zimbabwean musicians must aspire to raise the bar and produce great music that will sell anywhere in the world.’